Mountainsmith Frostfire 6

This pack fits better the more weight in it. The lumbar straps that attach to the hip belt, help so much in carrying heavy loads. I've taken this pack on three week expiditions and haven't been able to max out its capacity. You'd have to be Super Man to need the Frostfire 7. This pack works well for weekend jaunts also. Just be careful how it's packed, if it's not half full it won't hang properly on the straps. My only complaint is, that after two years of almost constant use, the two foam pads that straddle the spine are starting to deform. Their being squashed to the side letting the pack touch my back in a couple of places. Watch this, after every day of use push the pads together, it will postpone this problem.

At $300 bucks, these are the best damn packs on the market.

Made of heavy-duty cordura the material is bomb proof and rip-proof. The suspension is great, I recently carried 80 lbs through the Grand canyon on a 26-day hike and the pack felt more comfortable with 80 lbs than at the end of my trip with only 30.

The added features like the inside water hydration system, the detachable top hood which converts to a fanny pack and the easy adjustable webbing make this the best pack for the money you will find.

The only drawback to Mountainsmith is their limited choice of colors, red and green.

Buy the Frostfire series and happy trails will be yours.

This backpack rocks. I have used it for everthing from long long backpacking trips to mountain rescues. I once carried a 120 pound women in it with her legs hanging out the front when she blew out her knee. She said it was comfortable and although the suspension was still comfortable with this amount of weight I had trouble walking up the steep ensuing trail. This is a bombproof pack for those willing to carry serious loads in inhospitable conditions. Buy it.